Liquid chemical container with integrated fluid reservoir

Abstract

A liquid dispenser system uses a container that has a reservoir in the bottom of the container and an opening in the top of the container. The dispenser has a cover, which covers the opening in the container and a draw tube that extends from the cover into the reservoir. An end of the draw tube in the reservoir has a plurality of inlets. The average cross-section of the reservoir below the inlets of the draw tube is less than one fourth of the average cross-section of the rest of the container. As a result of the difference in average cross-sections, the invention reduces the amount of liquid that the dispenser is not able to dispense, which reduces wasted liquid. In a production environment, the reduction in waste results in a reduction in down time.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An apparatus for dispensing liquid, comprising: 
       a container, comprising;  
       a top with an opening;  
       a bottom spaced from the top;  
       a tubular section extending from the top of the container to the bottom of the container; and  
       a reservoir formed by a concave section of the bottom of the container, said reservoir having an average cross sectional area, wherein the ratio between the average cross-sectional area of said reservoir to the average cross-sectional area of said container is greater than 4:1; and  
       a dispenser, comprising:  
       a cover extending across the opening of the top of the container;  
       a draw tube extending from the cover into the reservoir; and  
       inlets in a part of the draw tube in the reservoir.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus, as recited in claim  1 , wherein the dispenser further comprises a delivery tube in fluid connection with the draw tube and outside of the container. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus, as recited in claim  2 , further comprising a bubble sensor in fluid connection with the delivery tube. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus, as recited in claim  3 , further comprising a bag lining the inside of the container. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus, as recited in claim  4 , wherein the bag is a plastic bag. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus, as recited in claim  5 , wherein the container has a round cross-section. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus, as recited in claim  5 , wherein the container has a square cross-section. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for dispensing liquid, comprising: 
       a container, comprising:  
       a top with an opening;  
       a bottom spaced from the top;  
       a tubular section extending from the top of the container to the bottom of the container, and  
       a reservoir formed by a concave section of the bottom of the container, said reservoir having an average cross sectional area, wherin the ratio between the average cross-sectional area of said reservoir to the average cross-sectional area of said container is greater than 16:1; and  
       a dispenser, comprising:  
       a cover extending across the opening of the top of the container;  
       a draw tube extending from the cover into the reservoir; and  
       inlets in a part of the draw tube in the reservoir.  
     
     
       9. The apparatus, as recited in claim  8 , wherein the dispenser further comprises a delivery tube in fluid connection with the draw tube and outside of the container. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus, as recited in claim  9 , further comprising a bubble sensor in fluid connection with the delivery tube. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus, as recited in claim  10 , further comprising a bag lining the inside of the container. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus, as recited in claim  11 , wherein the bag is a plastic bag. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus, as recited in claim  12 , wherein the container has a round cross-section. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus, as recited in claim  12 , wherein the container has a square cross-section.